Recycled C&D Waste Materials

Dr. K M Soni, Retd. Addl DG, CPWD, New Delhi


Large construction activities were taken up after Independence in India. These structures have outlived their lives now and are under demolition. From such demolitions, a considerable quantity of Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste is going to be generated. C&D waste is also being generated from repair, renovation and construction works. Hence, management of C&D waste has become a necessity.

Realising this, the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), Government of India has notified “Construction and Demolition Waste Management Rules, 2016” in which management of C&D waste generated by an individual, organisation or authority has been covered.

Even though few C&D waste recycling plants have been installed in the country, use of recycling materials has been made in isolated projects only and as such their wide use is to be made simultaneously while ensuring their quality.

C&D Waste Management
C&D waste comprises of used or rejected building materials, debris and rubble resulting from construction, repair, renovation, and demolition of structures and its waste management also includes 3Rs i.e. Reduce, Recycle and Reuse as shown in Figure 1. Reduction of the waste is made through prevention, minimisation and deconstruction. Prevention can be achieved through quality work; minimisation through demolition only after the structure has outlived its life; and deconstruction by taking out useful materials from the structure being demolished i.e. reverse way of construction. Advantage of deconstruction is that salvaged materials can be reused in works. The materials which cannot be salvaged are to be recycled and converted into useful products. In case, such management is implemented, almost all the waste can be converted into resource and very little quantity needs disposal.